星空传媒

Polar Research

Global warming, particularly amplified in the polar regions, may cause profound and irreversible changes in Earth鈥檚 environments and biosphere. Understanding these changes in the polar regions is thus critical for the future of our planet. Therefore, faculties at the Department of Earth Science at KU undertake interdisciplinary research to track the magnitude and expansion of these changes with a strong focus on the evolution of polar ice, polar meteorology, ocean chemistry, terrestrial and marine ecosystems as well as surface processes involving cryospheric changes. Furthermore, the past and modern evolution of polar regions is used as important analogues in planetary habitability and adaptability of life in extreme environments. Faculty Members currently involved in this field of research include Aisha Al Suwaidi,聽Mohammed Ali, Diana Francis, Frantz Gerard Ossa Ossa, Hamed Gamaleldien, Mohamed Ramy El-Maarry and Fateh Bouchaala.

Example of ongoing research projects can be found below:

• High latitude records of paleoclimate and paleoenvironmental change. Response of high latutude polar climates to enhanced pluvial events specifically soil and weathering responses (By Aisha Al Suwaidi).
• Research on polar ice, polar meteorology and the impacts of climate change on the cryosphere (By Diana Francis).
• Methane dynamics in the Polar Regions and the Arctic Amplification Effect (By Frantz Gerard Ossa Ossa).
• Understanding of Early Earth History, tectonic and geological evolution of polar regions; Understanding How basement rock structures control glacier movement (By Hamed Gamaleldien).
• Mars analog sites; Antarctic meteorite campaigns (By Mohamed Ramy El-Maarry).
• Rock physics for modeling heat flow through ice and permafrost to predict melting and freezing patterns; Identifying hydrate reservoirs and assessing their dissolution using seismic and rock physics methods; Machine Learning modelling using large amount of polar data (By Fateh Bouchaala).